Alejandro Garnacho could get the chance to respond to Erik ten Hag's challenge at Manchester United

From the unexpected to the expectant. Erik ten Hag is discovering that managing Manchester United in a run-in is markedly different to managing Ajax.

Since the season resumed after the spring internationals, Ten Hag has miscalculated with alarming regularity and his game-management - his Midas touch for three-quarters of the campaign - has deserted him.

It was not so much who Ten Hag put on at West Ham as who he didn't. Alejandro Garnacho has been training for the best part of a fortnight and was unused while five teammates emerged.

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Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho have had their best impacts off the bench this season, though so has Garnacho. His game-changing impacts have also been more pivotal.

There was the winner at Fulham, the assist for Marcus Rashford in the January derby, the clincher at Leeds. Garnacho came on in the League Cup third round tie against Aston Villa with United 2-1 down and they won 4-2, with the Argentine creating two of the goals.

Supporters were not the only ones wondering why Garnacho's bib stayed on at the London Stadium. Ten Hag was asked why at his post-match press conference.

"He was on the bench, then, of course, he is capable of playing," Ten Hag explained. "But we also had other options with Martial, with Jadon Sancho, with Sabitzer, offensive and fit - very fit - players are there and present, then you have to play them.

"But in one week, you have to see, it's one week extra and he is brave, he can make a difference, yeah."

Garnacho, back in the squad for the first time after a seven-week absence with an ankle injury, may have a significant role to play in United's run-in. Ten Hag's thinking is at times so muddled he has started